~This one's shorter, but important occurrences taking place.
Chapter 55: Deadly Deception
Bella and Ace scarfed down the food that was left for them. She was awaiting Aro. Monica told her he'd be visiting soon. That was the strangest twist of fate. She was still having trouble wrapping her mind around it. Her very best friend was a vampire and she lived in Italy with Aro all this time they thought she was a missing person.
At first, Bella felt miserable for her former roommate because she felt completely responsible. Aro targeted Monica just for knowing her. When the whole story was laid out before her, Bella was consumed with hatred and rage. That wasn't how it went down at all. Aro got to Monica long before she'd ever met her. It was a set up the whole time. Everything she ever had with her was a lie. Barry would equally be devastated. Monica fed Aro information over and over again. She played her and the pack. She deserved an Academy award for her performance.
Bella brought up the fainting. "Please, I took drama in high school. It wasn't that hard."
Bella thought maybe there was a glimmer of hope she meant something to Monica and it hadn't all been an act. "Please, I still care about you. The three of us were true friends. I don't believe you. The Cullens could help. They could train you, accept you into their coven. You wouldn't have to hurt innocent people. You don't have to do this, Mon. Look at this little boy. You were with me when I brought him into the world. Doesn't that mean anything to you?"
"Yes, I was. I haven't forgotten everything, but as you pointed out, I'm not very maternal and I'm a great actress." Monica looked over Bella at Ace tossing and turning in his sleep. "What's with him? He's acting odd."
Bella was quick to point out he was a little boy ripped away from his home and his entire life. Not to mention, they'd both been drugged out of their minds for hours upon hours. "He's sleeping. His poor body has been traumatized."
Monica had been entirely chilling and uncaring until Bella brought up their history and her attachment to Barry and Atticus. She sensed a shift in her demeanor but it was only fleeting.
"I almost changed my mind, many times actually. After all, I worked for Aro out of fear and you knew I was always broke as fuck. He paid better than any employer I ever had. When your pack accepted me in the fold, I thought for just a second I could come forward. If only one of them would love me enough to protect me from all the threats Aro made against me, I would spill my guts. I didn't fake our friendship, Bella. I loved you and Barry. I truly did, but you never loved me as much as I loved you. All of you kept insisting I wasn't the one for Quil. He liked me, the real me. It was one of the only times I was comfortable in my own skin. He enjoyed my company and laughed at my jokes, but you never would stop with your agenda. It was always imprint this and destiny that. I grew to despise you. I knew the second I drove off that reservation my life was over. Aro would take the knowledge I'd gained and drain me, erase me from existence. I wanted him to at first, but when Jane came for me and brought me here again, everything changed."
"I begged Aro to let me be a part of this. He was going to exterminate me for disobeying. I was supposed to stay put much longer, but I couldn't stand it another day. My human life, was one disappointment after another, but this world was completely different. I made new alliances. I'm at his side almost always now. Aro trained me personally. I'm lethal. Don't tell, but he regards me higher than his mate. I never fit in elsewhere, but here I'm important."
Bella shuddered to see how Monica was downright proud of what she'd become. She truly was dead to her.
"And besides those Cullens would never accept me after what I did to them."
"What's that supposed to mean? Were you there? On the res? Mon, what about the guys?"
Monica only laughed and shook her head at Bella, "You think this whole moment is only about you. That's so like you, Bella. Aro doesn't even need you anymore, that's not the plan any longer. You changed the plan when you mated with the shape-shifter. I never would've predicted you'd go full slut and chase a married man. Oh well, at least I got a vacation those few months. Aro brought me here so I could see exactly how powerful he was. It is literally impossible to defeat him. No one has even come close. The pack won't win and you'll be dead soon enough. Aro wants his twins first. He will then raise those three shields as his own and then when they've matured, they'll be turned. If you think that wolf blood will interfere, you're wrong. Caius has a back up plan, he knows more than anyone how to handle the wolves. No one will ever challenge our master again. He will become the most powerful immortal to ever exist."
She wished there was something to throw at her or that she was strong enough to kick her vampire ass. Instead, she only hurled insults, "Get out of my sight, you filthy bitch! You're a goddamn liar! You didn't want to give the pack a chance or you definitely would've said something. You knew damned well they could protect you. You only pursued Quil to hurt us deeper. I hate you! We all despise you. You were a soulless monster long before the venom transformed your pathetic existence. I can't wait for Jacob to tell me the look on your face when you witness him killing you for good."
Monica cackled more and more with every word Bella uttered. She got so worked up, her stomach hurt, but Ace comforted and calmed her as soon as Monica left them alone.
Bella wiped the tears that fell while she drank down the last bit of soup. Her former friend's words haunted her. Aro had a secret weapon no one knew about, a predictor of future events, much like Alice, but fairly more accurate. He predicted the arrival of twins and that's why he waited so long to act. Three would be better than one. It was obvious Monica was right about one detail. Bella could never be controlled at this point. She'd only attack if she was ever turned. He thought the children could be trained if he possessed them at a young age. Many questions were answered by Monica throughout the time she lived with Renee. She knew all about Edward's experiments and the fact Ace was thought to be a powerful shield. She was also around when Zoe was born and knew she didn't exhibit such powers. At least, her daughter was left alone. She missed her like crazy, but was confident her parents were taking excellent care of her. Monica studied so many things about the pack those two years. Where Aro's GPS implant failed with Jacob, Monica's spying proved essential for their final plans.
As soon as she left them, Bella ran to the primitive bathroom and dry heaved in a bowl for several minutes. She was completely sickened and the feeling wouldn't vacate her. If she didn't stop thinking about this now, she might lose her dinner since she finally ate. Her babies needed her to eat. She had to keep up her strength. Aro thought he could steal her children from her, but he underestimated her. That ancient vampire probably knew next to nothing about a mother's love for her children. She just needed to hold out and stay strong for a couple of days because there was no way Jake wasn't already on his way for them.
The next thing required of her wouldn't be easy, but she had to do it. Aro had also greatly underestimated her son. There was no way he could be controlled either. His wolf sensed evil lurking long before anyone else.
Atticus was starving and ate, but now he was lying back down in the bed shivering under a blanket. He'd been amazing the whole time Monica spewed her viscous mantra. Somehow, he knew how to disguise that the wolf was so close as not to tip her off. Jacob, Edward and all the rest were right. Her son was strong and he was already a protector. Now it was time to give him her blessing.
"Look at me, sweetie. You saw what Monica was. You know how bad this is for us. You listened. I know you understand."
He slowly nodded. "Enemy."
"Yes, baby. We're surrounded by enemies. Mommy's slow and big carrying your brothers and I'm only human. I'm weak compared to all these cold ones, but you're not. I can try to use my shield but I'm not going to get far in my condition. However, you have the shield and the abilities of your father."
"I'm not a baby."
"Nope, you're like Daddy. You're wolf wants out. I know you think you'll get in trouble but you won't. If we're going to survive, you have to let him out, as soon as possible. You also cannot hold back anything. Whatever it is that you do, you need to exhibit all of your powers if we're going to make it. Do you understand me?" He moved his head up and down. "Atticus, I need you to concentrate and phase. Make sure, you're not too close to Mommy, but it's fine. I want you to. Daddy wants you to. You are a spirit warrior, protector of the Quileutes and I love you with my whole heart." She held his blazing cheeks in her hands. "Be strong. Never stop fighting, but be smart. Don't underestimate anyone that's loyal to Aro."
They were in a windowless room, but Bella thought back to being there the first time. They descended many stairs to get to the hall where Aro conducted business. She told her son to climb, if he managed to get free, then he should go up and run as fast as he could. Bella knew he could handle himself if he phased, but she wasn't keen on him facing every damn immortal in Volterra. She wasn't sure where to tell him to get help, but if he managed to escape this dungeon of sorts then at least he'd be safe. She reminded him his Poppa was a police chief. If he got to a police station, then the alert would get out. Jacob might be able to locate him quickly after that. She spent the next several hours telling him all that she knew about vampires and how his father and the pack took them down. A lot of the stuff would be instinctual, but she wanted him to have the best fighting chance there was.
Bella was still concerned about that visit from Aro. She told him to wait and try and hide what was happening if he came to their room. Sure enough, as they two of them were nearing exhaustion, Aro entered their quarters.
"Isabella and the not-so Wee One. Welcome to your new home. I trust the accommodations have been satisfactory."
Bella didn't answer him and Atticus pretended to be asleep. He was so smart, he'd taken all her instructions to heart.
Aro made clicking noises with his tongue. "Now, now, there's no need for pouting. I gave you years of freedom."
Bella was incensed. "You planted a spy in my home, you fucking maniac!" How dare he act like giving her years of building a life only to snatch it away all at once was some sort of generous gift.
He covered his lips with a stark white finger. "Shhh, not in front of the sleeping babe. Monica said you were stunned by her appearance. I always did love a good surprise. I take it you don't. There's so much we've yet to learn about each other. Remorse fills us both currently. I've never felt closer to you, dear Isabella." He approached the bed. Aro grabbed Bella's hands. She locked down everything that she was feeling, all that she knew.
He hummed a controlled titter. "Fascinating. I must test the children."
Bella tried to slap his filthy hands away, but he didn't move. He grabbed Ace's shoulders. Her son opened his eyes to face their captor. Bella watched the intake of air flare in and out of his nostrils, but he said nothing. If she didn't know better, Ace had willed his temperature lower or maybe it was the chill Aro brought to the room. Aro released him soon after. He startled Bella by putting both his hands over her stomach. She flinched at his touch.
Aro shivered before releasing her. "Amazing. Even the tiny unborn children block me completely out. This will be a time of wonder, I'm looking forward to it."
Bella was looking forward to Jacob decapitating him and Aro burning in hell, but she bit her lip so hard she tasted her own blood. She was exhausted and wanted him to go away for the time being.
"Can you please leave, we're tired?"
Aro said something about her having plenty of rest the journey over. He called out to someone on the other side of the door.
An enchanting woman with nearly floor length hair stepped in carrying a tray. Bella was confused. She'd had enough accidents and trips to the ER to figure out what the mysterious female vampire had spread out on her tray. There were needles and an IV bag. She resisted.
Aro used his coaxing voice and told her to stop struggling before she worried her young son. "Relax, Isabella. This is how it has to be."
She begged. "Please, Aro, I don't need it. All those drugs aren't good for the babies. I'm plenty tired. Don't sedate me again. I'm begging you. We've given you absolutely no trouble."
The lady plunged a needle in her arm regardless and a cool liquid burned in her veins.
Aro's entire expression altered. He was a smug, creepy bastard. "Oh, you've got it all wrong. That wasn't a sedative, dear. I doubt they'll be much sleeping going on once that takes hold of you."
The next thing Bella knew, iron restraints were being clamped over both hers and Ace's wrists and they were tethered to metal rings on the wall she'd yet to notice until that point.
She hurled obscenities at him when he shut the door and turned the key to lock her in again. Bella looked up at the unmarked IV bag again. What the hell was he giving her? Ace started making agonizing noises. She tried to get him to settle down but nothing worked. He kicked his legs and flailed himself up and down off the bed. She knew he was in pain.
Bella did her best to comfort him until she herself was gripped with a strong pain that started in her back and spread across her mid-section. Her belly tightened and ached. She looked back at the IV when she finally felt her uterus relax some.
Holy hell. He wasn't putting her to sleep, he was inducing her labor. Bella was six weeks away from her due date and she was consumed with fear for those tiny babies. There was no way Aro was going to wait six weeks. Jacob would only be hours behind them unless something beyond his control prevented him. She honestly had no concept of time or awareness of how long they'd been in that room. The was no evidence of night or day.
Her son was their only hope. "Atticus. Now, Atticus, you have to break free now!" Bella was consumed by another contraction. She'd never been induced before, she wasn't sure if one on top of the other was normal. She was used to a more gradual build-up.
A few minutes went by and then the bed started shaking again. He was in misery and definitely too close to Bella. She needed him out of the bed, but they were both chained.
Bella commanded him. "Wake up. Listen to me!"
His jerky movements ceased. Bella was watching for one sign of recognition or obedience when both his eyes popped open. Dark, almost black eyes rimmed in gold stared back at her. The wolf was in control. She hoped the young pup was up for the task at hand. All their lives depended on him. He lifted his hands above her head and snapped the restraint. Without any further instruction, her child snapped her restraint as well. He also jerked the tube where it connected to the medication. Maybe Bella should attempt following her son out since he was minutes from changing, but when she stood up, another pain overcame her. A warm gush of fluid ran down her legs. It was too late. The labor would continue now even without the medication. She couldn't be on the run or she'd be a hindrance.
Bella told him he'd have to go it alone. She moved back to the bed and huddled against the cold stone wall. That was when her four, almost five-year-old son burst out of his skin and transformed into a beautiful russet wolf, a miniature version of his father, but still impressive in size. He ripped the hardware off the door with his powerful jaws and escaped their prison. Bella fell back on the mattress. She had to trust the wolf's instincts and his overwhelming capacity to protect. She also had to trust that Jacob would be there soon. In fact, she was sure something felt different than before. It was almost like she sensed his approach.
~Thanks for reading.
There is a nail-biter chapter coming up. I think you all can imagine what the small group of good guys will be up against to rescue Bella and the children.